ANGELES CITY -- Two city councilors have filed a resolution urging Commission on Audit (COA) and Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to look into alleged overpricing of ultra violet rays water disinfection system installed in several pumping stations of the Angeles City Water District (ACWD).
Councilors Jesus Sangil and Alfie Bonifacio said they received reliable information that the ACWD has purchased 36 ultra violet rays at P8,000,000 per set totalling P288,000,000.
The purchase of UV rays system is still on going and the additional units are set to be installed in all 60 plus pumping stations of the ACWD, according to the two councilors.
Sangil and Bonifacio, chairpersons of the committees on public works/engineering and public utilities respectively, also said COA and LWUA must take a closer look into other transactions of the ACWD with private contractors following reports of abuses and irregularities.
"Marami po tayong nare-receive na information na iregularidad na ginagawa ng ilang opisyales ng ACWD," the councilors said.
Sangil said their sources at the ACWD disclosed that not all pumping stations are needing UV rays. "Only selected areas na hindi kalinawan at marumi ang water sources."
ACWD General Manager Reynaldo Liwanag belied the councilors' allegations.
Liwanag UV rays machines are not overpriced because their acquisition passed a bidding process.
He said all of the ACWD pumping stations need the disinfection systems to protect the consumers in the city.
Liwanag welcomed any inquiry saying "open kami keng makanyan, ala na kami man sasalikut keni (we are open to that, we are not hiding something here)."
Ultraviolet water purification is the most effective method for disinfecting bacteria from the water. UV rays penetrate harmful pathogens in the water and destroys illness-causing microorganisms.
Unlike chemical approaches to water disinfection, UV light provides rapid and effective inactivation of microorganisms through a physical process.
This new method of disinfecting water was adopted by several water districts in the country, according to Liwanag.
"Baliwag Water District, Puerto Princesa Eater District, City of San Fernando Water District to name a few gagamit la ngan," Liwanag said.